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20
Darby and Joan Clubs—Farnborough Club.
The membership at this Club has slightly increased during the
year. The car service is even more in demand as the members
become more infirm. The members of this Club have been very
fortunate in having a number of free Outings during the year.
The Rookery Club.
This Club has now about the same membership as Farnborough.
The W.V.S. helpers at both Clubs continue to take a
personal interest in the old people, listening to their problems and
frequently escorting them to hospital or to the Doctor when
necessary.
General Welfare Work.
During the year 1960 the appeals for assistance from the
Almoners of Orpington and Farnborough Hospitals have been constant.
W.V.S. members have been asked to take elderly people
to New Cross General Hospital for repairs to deaf aids, also to
Convalescent Homes (including one in the Isle of Wight) and to
bring them home again. In all, 321 escorts by car have been
undertaken.
The Trolley Shop continues to give valuable service at Farnborough
Hospital. It is the high-light of the week for the old and
permanent patients.
Orpington and District Old People's Welfare Committee.
The Honorary Secretary has kindly furnished the following
report:—
"The Orpington and District Old People's Welfare Committee
exists to promote and assist the general good of all old people in
the Urban District of Orpington, by assisting the work of statutory
authorities and voluntary organisations engaged in providing facilities
for physical and mental recreation, developing physical improvement,
furthering health or relieving poverty, distress or sickness.
It works in close collaboration with these organisations, and many
of them are represented on the Committee. All the 11 Old People's
Clubs in the district continue to flourish, and the Committee continues
to maintain a visiting service and help many old people from
its Benevolent Fund. The need for this work is increasing as the
number of old people grows; they live longer nowadays and therefore
more of them become frail. In March, 1960, this Committee
in conjunction with the British Red Cross Society, opened a chiropody
clinic in the Orpington Village Hall for the treatment of old
people. This provides for central Orpington a service which had
already been established in other parts of the Urban District. The
clinic meets a real need, and is fully booked for weeks ahead."